Electric switch



E. G. K. ANDERSON.

cummc swm zu, APPLICATIONv FILED DEC-23. 1920.

1,403,222. Patented Jan. ,1922.

2 SHEET$SHEET 2.

1N VEN TOR. I

Zrzzatif Jada 7507a adaptecl to be operated i -ment of the machine is loco.

'UNETFELD Application filecl December To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ERNST G. K. Axon]:- SON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident otChicago in th l'county of look and State of Illinois, have-invented certain new and useful linprofenients in Electric Switches; and I do hereby deciare that the following is a full, clear, and enact descrip" tion thereof, reference being had to the companying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which torn"; a partof this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in electric switches and refers more isrtirularly to a novel so-called ()iIGWflK switch in which the actuator or lower has movement in one plane to actuate a snap switci open or close it circuit, the movable switch element remaining in position to which it has been thrown and the 2r returned to normal after each actuation, to be in tion upon the next operation-oi the let 1- or actuator to throw the snap switch to another position.

My improvements may he applied to ferent kinds of mac or appz rotus, is especially adaptable for machines or e paratus in which the locatioi is necessarily or preferably inconvenient to operated hy One example of my int c the accompanying dr Wing I cation to a vacuum cleaningznachiue w erein the motor which drives the cleaning elo ted adj cent to the floor. In such a use it is convenient and desirable to place the ich adjacent to the motor and to support tiierect and the most convenient manner of operating the switch is by foot power.

The purpose of the inv ion to pro Vide an exceedingly simple economical and efficient switch actuating device and mount ing for the general purpose described which is so constructed and arrangwd that the actuating device can be made of few simple parts and, therefore, sturdy, and which can be readily adapted to any suitable switch. preferably a snap switch, wherein the active element of the switch resiliently remains in a position where thrown until intentionally actuated to throw to its opposite position.

A further object of the invention is to produce an exceedingly sturdyand durable to which :1 foot actuated switch .d are of parts shown in the scribed in the speclhcation, upended (lilil'llS 1 7 VB new oi a l with 2:

* ion,

racuui l switc l new of the vertical sectional ch mounting rcframe thereof. he line 8-3 of dcsigua cl by the forked 1 suitable nix-ted paris shown arms if manner.

. n 3'' novel switch in place in switch and the usual cover which latter is ignntes the actuafl do ill ' the switc; :nccl nisin which has the 1' '11 ot a lever, and in its adaptation to a vacuum cleonen is adapted to swing in a plane. or 2 N ihe switch ineclniznsin 1S nsedly supported. as herein shown, on a lisnge 21 of the motor and suction fan casing 1]. through the s described The elements r when actuated in one direction. as to close the switch, remains in such position until its actuator is actuated to open the switch,

where it remains until it is again intentionally closed, the actuator lever always returning to neutral after each throw of the switch. The switch mechanism can be principally located in a central recess 23 of the base '22 so that it will 'be amply protected from breakage. The switch mechanism may include a U-shaped switch blade 24 which, when in the position shown in Figures 6 and 7, closes the circuit between contacts 25, 26, the latter of which is electrically connected to one side of the operating circuit through a binding screw 28. suitably fastened to the base by a plate 29. The other contact 26 is electrically connected to one terminal of a pair of terminals (30, 31) that are adapted to be bridged by a twin contact plug 32 of known form; one of which terminals, the

terminal 31, carries a binding screw 33 for the conductor at one side of the circuit. The terminals 31, 32 are fixed to the insulating block by the screws 34, 35, respectively, (Figures 6 and 8).

As herein shown, the arms of the U-shaped switch blade 24 are pivoted to external projections 40 carried by the opposite sides of a fixed box-like frame 41 that is provided at its upper front and rear sides with ledges 42, 42 and are formed below said ledges on the rear edges of the walls with hook-like projections 43. 44 designates a U-shaped oscillatory switch blade actuating member, the bottom 44 of which is pierced to receive the upper headed end of a link 47 that extends through a large opening in the bot-- tom wall 48 of the fixed frame 41. The lower end of the link is loosely connected to the actuating lever 20 by having an eye portion that extends through an opening 49 in said lever and is loosely anchored to the lever by a cross member, as the cotter pin 50. The upper free ends of said switch blade actuating frame 44 are centrally pivoted at 52 to the upper or free ends of the arms 53 of a U-shaped switch blade controller and locking member, the bottom or closed portion 54 of which is connected by a spiral contractile spring 55 with an eye 56 at the closed end of the switch blade. Said arms 53 are formed with horns 53' adapted alternately to engage over the fixed ledges 42 to lock the blade in given position.

link 47, through foot pressure on the actuator lever, the actuating frame 44. is depressed, thercby depressing the controller member and effecting stress on the spring which operates, when the pivot points pass the plane of the spring, to quickly throw the blade to one extreme of its movement and to simultaneously throw the controller member in the opposite direction to engage one of the horns 53 with the then adjacent fixed ledge 42, as shown in Figure 4. \Vhcn foot pressure is released on the actuator lever 20, the spring 55 serves to bring said lever 20 to normal, in readiness for throwing the switch blade and locking it in its opposite position.

The snap switch mechanism described, or other known switch mechanism, is supported on the base of the block 22 by a frame designated as a whole by 57 (Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5), which is composed of two side arms 58, 58 arranged in general relatively oblique planes, a top cross member 59 that is providcd with openings 60, and lower obliquely, outwardly directed supporting foot members that are provided at their outer ends with apertures 62, through which extend screws 63, 63 by which the said mounting frame is fixed to a support. This supporting frame may be termed an adapter frame in that it adapts the snap switch movement to the machine or device in connection with which the switch is to be used. The said side and foot members are embedded in suitable depressions in the insulating block and the footmembers are attached to the base 21. The said screw 63 closely fits within a bushing 64 in said opening and the lower end of the bushing 64 may extend through its foot member and be upset thereunder and also npset below the head of its screw, as shown in Figure 9. The threaded lower end of the screw 63 extends beyond said lower upset end of the bushing for threaded engagement with opening in the flange 21, before mentioned. The fixed frame 41 of the switch movement can be fixed to the cross member 59 of the frame 57 by means of the screws (54. as shown in Figures 2 and 4, to thereby solidly fasten the switch and mounting on-the insulating mounting base.

The said actuating lever is shown as made of 'sheet metal. its inner end 6?, beyond the opening 49, is turned sharply upwardly to form a fulcrum member that is disposed between the fixed frame 41 of the switch and the fixed motor shell 11. The said inner upstanding end of the actuator lei er is formed with terminal bearing teeth 65 which engage the adjacent cylindric wall of the shell 11, as shown in l igures 2 and 4. and.

the teeth or lugs 43 of said fixed fra mc enter mosses the spaces ure 7).

The construction described performs two functions; that of fulcruming the upstanding end of the actuator lever on the projections 43 of the fixed frame 41, and the bear ing of the teeth 65 with a fixed part of the device, as the shell wall 11, serves to hold the notched fulcrum portion of said lever engaged with the fulcrum projections 43. Moreover, said projections extending into the notches between the laterally spaced teeth 43, avoids also sidewise displacement of the fulcrum end of the said lever.

In addition to the fastening'means described, some of which have other fastening functions, as well as means to fasten the insulating base to the machine, the said base may be provided with other openings to re ceive fastening means sufficientto hold the insulating base firmly in place.

The construction described produces a very simple and economical means of m0unting the actuating lever of an electrical switch, and especially a snap switch, and the arrangement is such that the fulcrum point for the lever is maintained in a very simple way, as by engagement of the lever terminal with an abutment which, in this instance, constitutes the wall of the shell 11. The actuator lever. therefore, is normally suspended between the link -17 and the point of contact of the lever with. the abutment, or shell ll, so to he in position to be freely moved downwardly about the under edges of the projections 43, as a fulcrum, to actuate the switch, and to be free to be swung upwardly to neutral position, when actuating pressure is released from the lever, by the spring 55.

The supporting frame 57 constitutes a very convenient and economical means to rigidly supportthe switch mechanism. of whatever kind used, on the base 22, so as to thereby provide an exceedingly sturdy switch mounting for such uses as herein illustrated and in other adaptations where the device as a whole is subjected in use to shocks and jars and to operating vibrations.

I claim as my invention:

1. A switch mechanism and mounting for the purpose set forth comprising a snap switch unit embracing a switch blade? which is alternately movable to and locked at the terminals of its throw, of a one-way actuator lever loosely connected to a movable part of the snap switch unit and loosely fulcrumed on a fixed part of said unit.

2. A switch mechanism and mounting for the purpose set forth comprising a snap switch unit, a one-way movement actuator lever loosely connected to'a movable part of the unit and loosely fulcrumed on a fixed part of said unit and an insulating base formed to receive and protect said unit and between said teeth 65 (Big;

having below the unit a front and rear through-opening through which said lever extends.

A switch mounting comprising, the

combination with a snap action switch and a frame for supporting the same, of a oneway operating lever loosely connected to and suspended from an operative part of said switch and fulcrumed on a fixed part of the switch frame. sl. A switch mounting comprising, the combination with a snap action switch and a fixed frame for supporting the switch. of a lever loosely connected intermediate its ends to an operative part of the snap action switch and fulcrumcd on a fixed part of said fixed frame, and formed terminally with means to maintain the lever fulcrumed on 'the switch frame.

5.1K switcl mounting comprising, the combination with a snap action switch and a fixed frame for supporting the switch. of a lever loosely connected intermediate its ends to an operative part of the snap action switch, and fixed, laterally spaced fulcrum elements on said frame, said lever being ter minally formed inwardly beyond its said connection with teeth to enter between said fulcrum elements.

6. A switch mounting embracing, the combination with a snap action switch unit and its fixed frame. of a one-way actuator lever therefor extending beneath said frame and having an upturned terminal adapted for fulcrum engagement with a portion of said fixed frame and adapted for engagement with a relatively fixed abutment to hold the fulcrum parts engaged.

7. A switch mounting embracing, the combination with a Snap action switch unit and its fixed frame, of a one-way actuator lever therefor extending beneath said frame and having an upturned terminal adapted for fulcrum engagement with a portion of said fixed frame and adapted for engagement with a relatively fixed abutment to hold the fulcrum; parts engaged, and an adaptor frame for supporting the switch unit on a machine and to constitute aguide for the actuator lever.

8. The combination with a switch movement complete with switch actuating mechanism and its own fixed frame, of an actuator lever extending beneath said frame and provided rearwardly beyond said frame with an upturned part that is fulcrumed to a fixed part of the switch frame. said lever being loosely connected between said up turned part and the outer end of the lever with a movable member of the switch movement.

9. The combination with a switch movement complete with switch actuating mech an sm and its'own unitary frame, of an ac tuating lever extending beneath the said frame and provided with a rearward, upturned t'ulcrum terminal for engagement with fulcrum elements on said frame, and a link connection between said lever and a movable switch element. intermediate the upturned end of the lever and its free swingingend.

10. In combination with a snap action switch movement having as a unitary part thereof a iixed frame. of a U-shaped adapter support having means by which it is com nected to said frame and provided with means for attaching it rigidly to a device in connection with which the switch is to be used. and an actuating lever having a swing ing portionwhitih extends between the arms ot the U-shapcd adapter support and pro vided \lith a rear, upturned part that. is adapted for loose fulcrum engagement with a. fixed part of the switch frame. and 'is adapted to be engaged with an abutment which bears av fixed relation to the said switch frame to-hold the parts in fulcrum relation, said lever having link connection between its ends with a movable part of the snap action switch.

11. In combination with a snap switch movement having as a unitary part thereof a fixed frame, of a U-shaped adapter support having means by which it is connected to S d frame a d provided with means for attaching it rigidly to a device in connection with. which the switch is used, and an actuating lever having a swinging portion which 1,eos,222

extends between the arms of the U-shaped support, said switch 1 'ame being provided with a rearwardly directed fulcrum member in fixed relation to an abutment on said dei'ice, and means aifording loose Connection between the ends of said lever and a movable part of the snap switch action, the lever being provided beyond said connection with an upturned fulcrum portion loosely connected with the fulcrum member of the switch frame and adapted for terminal contact with said abutment.

12. In combination with a switch action, and an insulating base carved to form a rearwardly opening recess to receive the switch action, of a- U-shaped'adapter element for supporting said switch action having means for connecting its closed portion with a fixed part of the switch, and with its parallel arms lying along the side walls of said recess and provided with outstanding foot portions which are secured to the bottom of said base, and a one-way actuator lever extending between said arms and loosely connected between its ends to an operable part of the switch action and having a rearward upstanding part beyond said connection for fulcrum engagement With the switch frame.

In witness whereof I claim the foregoing as my invention, I hereunto append my signature this llth day of December 1920.

ERNST G. K. ANDERSON. 

